My parents divorced when I was really small and I don't know my "real" dad. I was never adopted by my stepdad (not allowed) but he loved and raised him as his own.
Let's pretend his surname is Smith (its along those lines).
My mum's maiden name is a pretty evocative literary name, let's pretend it's Orwell.
When I was 19 I changed my name by deed poll to Smith (before that I had my bio dads surname). I changed it to show loyalty to my stepdad, it was kind of symbolic.
Now it looks as if my novel is going to be published (!). I'm using the name Jane as an example.
Rather than write and be published under the name Jane Smith, I'd like it to be J. B. Orwell. Firstly because I think it's cool having a literary name like that, but also because I'm so much closer to my mums side, they're the creative side of the family and I have closer ties with my uncles and aunts among the "Orwells". My mum has also always nurtured and supported me writing, and I guess there's an emotional "going back to your roots" thing there.
But my stepdad said it sounds pretentious. I think secretly he's hurt. What do you think?